Air compressor



Dec. 23, 1941.

F.A WQsTuRM Er AL AIR COMPRESSOR Filed April 24, 1939 Dec. 23, 1941. F, w STURM Em 2,267,479

AIR COMPRESSOR Filed April 24, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 23, 1941.

F. w. sTuRM Erm.

AIR COMPRESSOR Filed April 24, 1939l 4' Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 23, 1941. j F. W. s'rURM -ET An.

AIR COMPRESSOR Filed April 24, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 23, v1941l 4 UNITED# STATE s PATENT OFFICE AmcoMPnEsson rFrederick W. Sturm, Fort Wayne, and Sherwood Hinds, Columbia City, Ind., assignors to The Wayne Pump Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., a

corporation of Maryland Application April 24, 1939, serial No. 269,740

5 claims., (ci. 29o-22s) l .This invention pertains to an air compressor.

It is an object of Athis invention to provide an 'A air compressor having. lubricating means which is positive in operation but will not overv or under l oil, and wherein a constant effective oil level is maintained during operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compressor having oiling means wherein substantiallyall" ofthe oil is used so that no part of the oil is Overused.'

A further'l object of the invention is to provide a compressor wherein the check valve, drain valve and safetyvalve are nested to permit ready lremoval, and wherein the arrangement of parts Vis such that the connections to the tank are maintained at a minimum.

A still further object of the invention is to pro- 4'vide a compressor whereincompressed air conduits are disposed to be effectively cooled, wherebythe tanktemperature ismaintained as low a possible and substantially constant.

1 A different object ofthe invention is to .provide a compressor wherein only a single open outlet is provided on the crank. case and wherein thebreather and gauge stick are provided as an integral construction,V

A still differefritobject of the invention is to provide a compressor wherein the operating unit or compressor bed is resilientlysupported on the tank whereby the direct metal contact is eliminated andvibration of the bed is absorbed. 'f

With these and various otherobjects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and, operation as will be. more fully described and particularly pointed out vin the specification, drawings andl claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like,par'ts-`A Figure 1 is a side elevation of a compressor embodying `the invention;

Figure '2' is an enlarged end elevation, partly in section; of' a portion of the compressor unit Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a valve assembly for th/e compressor head;

Figure 'I is an enlarged top plan view of the valve assembly illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 8 isv an enlarged top plan view of the valve seat for the assembly illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an enlarged top plan view of the `valve retainer of the valve assemblyillustrated in Figure 6'; 4

vFigure l0 is an enlarged top plan view of a valve disc of the valve assembly shown in Figure 6;

Figure 11 is an enlarged top plan view of the valve retainer spring for the valve assembly illustrated in Figure 6.

In the compressor illustrated, the tank 2.8 is provided with the spaced supports 22 and the normally closed manual relief valve 24. The tank is provided with the spaced supporting members 26 shown of substantially Z-bar construction, be-

ing xedly secured to said' tank and forminga support for the resilient vcushions 28 which may be of live rubber or other suitable material on which the compressor bed 38 is supported, being secured thereto as at'32. Y

The compressor 34 is secured to the compressor-bed by means of the pedestal 36], said compressor, in the form illustrated, comprising the low pressure cylinder 38. and the high pressure cylinder 40 provided'with cooling veins 42, the cylinder block being provided with the crank .case 44 secured yas at 46 to the oil pan or basin '48. `cylinder head secured' thereto as at 52, the at- The cylinders are closed by. means of the mosphere inletl passagev 54 of the low pressure cylinder being provided with the inlet 5 6 having the mulller 58 thereon. The cylinder-head is provided on the inlet side with the valve assembly 60 of a form as will be described with respect. to Figures 6to 1l -i clusive. y

The low p essure cylinder is provided -with a low pressure piston 62, and the high pressure cylvinder is provided with a high pressure piston 64,

said pistons being connected through the wrist pins 66 andl 68 to the piston rods lll and 12, said piston rods being journaled through suitable ring-of the bearing being ilxedly secured to the 55 crank shaft as at 84.4 AI'heopposite end of the` bearings as indicated at 14, for the high pressure cylinder, to the crank shaft v16. The crank shaft is supported at one end o n the roller bearing 18, the outer race of said bearing being `shown as supported in the cap or end closure plate secured to the crank case as at I82, the inner race crank shaft is provided w'lth similar roller bearings (not shown), passes through a suitable journal box 88, and is provided with the flywheel 88 xedly secured to rotate with the shaft as at 90, the securing means and key therefor being generally indicated as at 92. 'I'he ywheel is shown as of the multiple V type for accommodating the belts Sli, adapted to be rotated by means of the pulley 98 provided on the rotating shaftof the operating motor 90. The flywheel 88 is provided with the vanes |-so disposed that when the flywheel is rotated air will be blown toward the cylinders by the action of said vanes. Y

The piston rods and 12 are provided with the downwardly extending dip pins or depending members |02 adapted to pass through or dip into the transverse trough |04, said trough being connected to the longitudinal troughs |06l prorvided in the oil pan 48, it being understood, of

course, that a transverse trough |04 is provided for both the high and low pressure piston rods.

The crank shaft is provided with the disc |08 disposed at one end thereof and adapted to rotate in the recess ||0, the disc being shown as secured between the inner race of the roller bearing assembly and the crank shaft, and being v valve, and preferably not being effective in operflattened on the sides thereof as at ||2 to facilitate entry into the crank case through the aper tures ||4 normally closed by the cover plate 80, the shape also aiding in throwing the lubricant from the disc. The disc is adapted to dip into the oil provided in the lower portion of the oil pan, the level thereof being illustrated as at H8, the lubricant being picked up by the disc |08 and thrown by centrifugal force against the Walls i 8 of the crank case and running down into the trough |05, and consequently the troughs |04. the action of the disc and the pins |02 serving to vaporize the oil to permit ready lubrication of the bearings. The crank case is provided with the opening for receiving the breather pipe |20 which is made removable and is provided with the oil gauge |22 adapted to extend to the bottom of the oil pan.

The outlet valve |24 of the low pressure cylinder is of similar construction to the inlet valve 80, and communicates with the outlet manifold |26 connected to the fitting |28 which in turn is connected to the tubing |30. The tubing |30 extends downwardly and is disposed in a plane between the flywheel and the cylinders in order to be readily cooled from the air passing from the vanes |00. Said tubing is shown as being formed in a single loop, the opposite end thereof being connected to the fitting |82 connected to the inlet manifold |34 of the high pressure cylmanifold of the outlet valve of the high pressure cylinder is connected to the fitting |38 which in turn is connected to the tubing |40, which in turn is disposed in the plane of and within the loop formed by the tubing |30 in order to be cooled. The tubing |40 preferably is looped a plurality of times and-is connected to the valve nest |42 as at |44. f. i l

The tubing |40 is connected to the passage |48 having the valve seat |48 therein on which the valve |50 is seated, said valve being urged toward closed position by means of the outer spring |82 and the inner spring |84, the inner spring being a stiff spring eiectiveto prevent noise of the ation against the valve until after predetermined operation of the outer spring, said springs being retained by means of the retaining member |58 threaded to the valve nest. The passage |46 communicates through said valve to theA passage |58 to which the safety valve |80 has access, said safety valve including the housing member |82, the guide enclosure member |84, the valve stem |86, and the normally closed valve |68 urged towards closed position on its seat |10 by means of the spring |12, the valve when in open position due to excess pressure, permitting communication with the atmosphere.

The passage |58 likewise communicates with the passage |14, which in turn is connected to the pipe |16 suitably secured` as at |18 to the fitting |80 communicating with the tank, the fitting being welded or otherwise' secured to the tank as at |82. The passage |14 likewise communicates through the fitting |84 to the pressure control mechanism |88 of the automatic control device |88, said device being of a well known make in which an electrical switch is mounted therein for controlling operation of the motor 90. The usual pressure gauge |89 is also provided on the nest |42 communicating with the tank.

When the pressure reaches a predetermined point, the pressure control device |86 is operated to open the switch and stop the motor. When the pressure in the tank falls to a predetermined amount, the pressure control device |88 permits the switch to be closed to start the motor. When the switch is moved to open position the normally closed valve |90 is operated to form a connection between the exhaust pipe |9| andthe pipe |92, one end of which is connected to the said valve through the fitting |90l the other end of which is connected to the fitting |96 which, in turn, is connected to the conduit |46, the opening of the valve |90 causing pressure in the compressor to be relieved as the tubing |40 is thus vented to atmosphere.

In order to provide a means for expelling moisture due to condensation in the tank, the pipe |96 extends from a low point in the tank to the manually controlled needle valve 200, the control means therefor being indicated as at 202, the pipe |98 being disposed within the pipe |16. The valve 200 is connected to the piping 204 which is likewise connected to the exhaust pipe |9|. It will'thus be seen that when pressure is in the tank it is only necessary to open the valve 200 and the compressed air'in said tank will cause the liquid therein to move upwardly in the pipe |98 and to be expelled through the pipe |9|. f

The valve mechanism 60, and the similar valve mechanisms for the cylinder lhead of the compresser, consist essentially of a valve seat, member 208 threaded as at 208 to provide securing means therefor. The valve seat is provided with the radially disposed elongated openings 2|0 disposed axially of the seat member, and surrounding said openings, the marginaly projecting flanges 2| 2 and 2|4 are disposed, forming .seatv members for the valve-.discs 2|8, said members being disposed in the recess 2| T' within the seat The valve retainer 224 is provided with the plurality of apertures 226, and said retainer is adapted to be received and seated against the seat 228 of the valve seat 206, being retained therein by means of the valve retainer spring 230 received when in operative position in the recess 232. The retainer spring is provided with the inward- 1y extending flanges 234 which may be readily engaged and moved toward each other for contracting the spring to permit ready seating within the recess 232 and ready release therefrom whereby the valve assembly may be easily assembled and disassembled. This type of assembly may be used as an inlet or outlet valve merely by installing in reverse direction, and it is understood that this type of assembly may be used for any stage.

' It is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown, which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device willV of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:

l. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, an inlet and an outlet valve assembly in said cylinder, each of said valve assemblies being interchangeable but oppositely arranged, said assemblies including a valve seat comprising a member having securing means and a recess, elongated openings disposed radially and axially of 'said seat, concentric members disposed on each side of said openings forming valve seats, a valve disc having flattened side portions and a central aperture, said disc being adapted to engage said seats to close communicaticn through said openings, a seat spaced from said disc in said recess, an apertured retaining member disposed on said last named seat, means for xing said retaining member to said seat, said means including a groove spaced from said seat, a resilient member adapted to be sprung into said groove, said resilient member having spaced inwardly extending flanges at the ends thereof adapted to be moved toward each other to contract said member for insertion or removal into the groove, resilient means disposed between said disc and retaining member normally urging said disc to seated position, a crank case and oil pan, r

a' crank shaft in said crank case, a piston rod connectng said piston and crank shaft, an oil trough in said oil pan disposed below said rod, a second trough communicating with said first named trough and disposed along the side of said oil pan,

means on said rod adapted to splash oil in one of said troughs, means for maintaining oil in said troughs including a disc disposed on and rotatable with said crank shaft, said disc extending into the oil pan below said troughs, said compressor having a flywheel having cooling vanes thereon, means for driving said compressor connected to said flywheel, a storage tank, a connection from said compressor to said tank including a pipe, a portion thereof being disposed in a plurality of coils adjacent said fiywheel for cooling by said vanes, said connection including a housing member, a valve urged toward closed position against the compressed fluid supplied by the compressor, a safety valve between said valve and tank communicating with atmosphere and set for a predetermined pressure, an inlet connection from said housing to said tank, a no-rmally closed pressure operated valve associated with said housing and operated after a predetermined pressure .for maintaining exists in said tank, and a connection in said housing between said rst named valve and said compressor controlled by said last named valve.

2. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, an inlet and an outlet valve assembly in said cylinder, each of said valve assemblies being interchangeable but oppositely arranged, said assemblies including a valve seat comprising a member having securing means and a recess, elongated openings disposed radially and axially of said seat, concentric members disposed on each side of said openings forming valve seats, a. valve disc having flattened side portions and a central aperture, said disc being adapted to engage said seats to close communication through said openings, a seat spaced from said disc in said recess, an apertured retaining member disposed on said last named seat, means for fixing said retaining member to said seat, said means including a groove spaced from said seat, a resilient member adapted to be sprung into said groove, said resilient member having spaced inwardly extending flanges at the ends thereof adapted to be moved toward each other to contract said member for insertion or removal into the groove, resilient means disposed between said disc and retaining member normally urging said disc to seated position, a crank case and oil pan, a crank shaft insaid crank case, a piston rod connecting said piston and crank shaft, an oil trough in said oil pan disposed below said rod, a second trough communicating with said first named trough and disposed along the side of said oil pan, means associated with said rod adapted to splash oil in one of said troughs, means oil in said troughs including a disc disposed on and rotatable with said crank shaft, said disc extending into the oil pan below said troughs, said compressor having a flywheel, means f-or driving said compressor connected to said flywheel, a storage tank, a connection from said compressor to said tank including a pipe, said connection including a housing member, a valve urged toward closed position against the 'compressed fluid supplied by the compressor, a

safety valve between said valve and tank communicating with atmosphere and set for a predetermined pressure, an inlet connection from said housing to said tank, a normally closed pressure operated valve associated with said housing and operated after a predetermined pressure exists in said tank, and a connection in said housing between said first named valve and said compressor controlled by said last named valve.

3. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, an inlet and an outlet valve assembly in said cylinder, each of said valve assemblies being interchangeable but oppositely arranged, said assemblies including a valve seat comprising a member having securing means and a recess, elongated openings disposed radially andaxially of said seat, concentric members disposed on each side of said openings forming valve seats, a valve disc having flattened side portions and a central aperture, said disc being adapted to engage said seats to ,close communication through said openings, a seat spaced from said disc in said recess, an apertured retaining member disposed on said last named seat, means for fixing said retaining member to said seat said means including a groove spaced from said seat, a resilient member adapted to be sprung into said groove, said resilient member having spaced inwardly extending flanges at the end: thereof adapted to be moved toward each othei to contract said member for insertion or removal into the groove, resilient means disposed between s aid disc and retaining member normally urging said disc to seated position, a crank case and oil pan, a crank shaft in said crank case, a piston rod connecting said piston and crank shaft, an oil trough in said oil pan disposed below said rod, a second trough communicating with said rst named trough and disposed along the side of said oil pan, means associated with said rod adapted to splash oil in one of said troughs, means for maintaining oil in said troughs, means for driving said compressor, a storage tank, a connection from said compressor to said tank including a pipe, said connection including a housing member, a valve urged toward closed position against the compressed fluid supplied by the compressor, a safety valve between said valve and tank communicating with atmosphere and set for a predetermined pressure, an inlet connection from said housing to said tank, a normally closed pressure operated valve associated with said housing and operated after a predetermined pressure exists in said tank, and a connection in said housing between said first named valve and said compressor controlled by'said last named valve. Y

4. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, an inlet and an outlet valve assembly in said cylinder, each of said valve assemblies being interchangeable but oppositely arranged, said assemblies including a valve seat comprising a member having securing means and a recess, elongated openings disposed radially and axially of said seat, concentric members disposed on each side of said openings forming valveseats, a valve disc having flattened side portions and a central aperture, said disc being adapted to engage said seats to close communication through said openings, a seat spaced from said disc in said recess, an apertured retaining member dispod on said last named seat, means for fixing said retaining member to said seat, said means including a groove spaced from said seat, a resilient member adapted to be sprung into said groove, said resilient member having spaced inwardly extending anges at the ends thereof adapted to be moved toward each other to contract said member for insertion or removal into the groove, resilient means disposed between said disc Vand retaining member normally urging said disc to seated position, a crank case and oil pan, a crank shaft in said crank case, a piston rod connecting said piston and crank shaft, an oil trough in said oil pan disposed below said rod, a second trough communicating with said lrst named trough and disposed along the side of said oil pan,rmeans associated with said rod adapted to splash oil in one of said troughs, means for maintaining oil in said troughs, means for drlving said compressor, a storage tank, a connection from said compressor to said tank including a pipe, said connection including a housing member, a valve urged toward closed position against the compressed fluid supplied oy the compressor, an inlet connection from said housing to said tank, a normally closed pressure operated valve associated with said housing and operated after a predetermined pressure exists in said tank, and a connection in said housing between said rst named valve and said compressor controlled by said last named valve.

5. In a valve nest, the combination of a valve seat comprising a skirt having securing means externally thereof and a recess formed therein, one of the ends of said skirt being open, the opposite end of said skirt being provided with a web having elongated openings therein, said openings being disposed radially and axially of said seat, marginal means surrounding said openings and projecting within said skirt, said marginal means forming valve seats, a retaining shoulder spaced from said web, an apertured retaining member engaging said shoulder, means for xing said retaining member against said retaining shoulder, said last-named means including a groove provided in said skirt and spaced from said retaining shoulder a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said retaining member, readily movable resilient retaining means adapted to be sprung into said groove, avalve disc having attened side portions and a substantially central aperture for permitting passage around and through said disc when said disc is spaced from said seats, said disc being adapted to engage said seats to close communication through said openings, and resilient means disposed between said valve disc and retaining member urging said valve disc toward closed position.

FREDERICK W. STURLI. SHERWOOD HINDS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,267,l;.79. December 25, 1914.1.

FREDERICK W. STURM, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows.: Page411., sec

the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Office.

signed and sealed this 17th day of Maz-Ch, A. D. 19142.

, Henry Van Arsdale.,

(Seal) Acting Commissionerof Patents. 

